RF amplifier devices including top side contacts and methods of manufacturing

1. A radio frequency (“RF”) transistor amplifier, comprising:

a semiconductor layer structure comprising a first major surface and a second major surface that is opposite the first major surface; and

a plurality of unit cell transistors on the first major surface that are electrically connected in parallel, each unit cell transistor comprising a gate finger coupled to a gate manifold, a drain finger coupled to a drain manifold, and a source finger, wherein the semiconductor layer structure is free of a via that electrically connects one or more of the source fingers to the second major surface; and

a coupling element on the first major surface and distinct from the semiconductor layer structure, the coupling element comprising a gate connection pad, a drain connection pad, and a source connection pad having respective surfaces that are exposed on a surface of the coupling element that is opposite the first major surface of the semiconductor layer structure,

wherein the gate connection pad, the drain connection pad, and the source connection pad are electrically connected to the gate manifold, the drain manifold, and ones of the source fingers, respectively, by respective conductive elements.

2. The RF transistor amplifier of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier substrate on the second major surface of the semiconductor layer structure, wherein the carrier substrate is not electrically active.

3. The RF transistor amplifier of claim 2 , further comprising a thermally and/or electrically conductive layer on the second major surface of the semiconductor layer structure between the semiconductor layer structure and the carrier substrate.

4. The RF transistor amplifier of claim 3 , further comprising a circuitry module on the semiconductor layer structure, the circuitry module comprising a gate lead connection pad electrically coupled to the gate manifold and a drain lead connection pad electrically coupled to the drain manifold.

5. The RF transistor amplifier of claim 4 , wherein the circuitry module comprises a first side adjacent the first major surface and a second side opposite the first side, and further comprising one or more circuit elements that are mounted on the first side and/or the second side of the circuitry module.

6. The RF transistor amplifier of claim 5 , further comprising a thermally and/or electrically conductive auxiliary spacer layer on the one or more circuit elements.

7. A transistor amplifier, comprising:

a group III-nitride based amplifier die comprising a gate terminal, a drain terminal, and a source terminal on a first major surface of the amplifier die; and

a circuitry module on and electrically coupled to the gate terminal, drain terminal and source terminal of the amplifier die on the first major surface of the amplifier die by respective conductive bonding elements that are external to the amplifier die;

a coupling element between the amplifier die and the circuitry module, the coupling element having a bottom surface adjacent the first major surface of the amplifier die and a top surface opposite the bottom surface;

a carrier substrate on a second major surface of the amplifier die that is opposite the first major surface; and

a package housing on the amplifier die, the circuitry module, and the carrier substrate,

wherein the circuitry module comprises one or more circuit elements that are coupled between the gate terminal and a first lead of the transistor amplifier and/or between the drain terminal and a second lead of the transistor amplifier,

wherein the circuitry module has a first surface and a second surface that is on an opposite side of the circuitry module from the first surface,

wherein the first surface of the circuitry module comprises interconnection pads adjacent the first major surface of the amplifier die, and the respective conductive bonding elements are on respective surfaces of the interconnection pads that are exposed at the first surface, and

wherein the second surface of the circuitry module is adjacent the package housing such that the circuitry module is between the package housing and the amplifier die, and the amplifier die is between the carrier substrate and the circuitry module, and

wherein the top surface of the coupling element exposes a surface of a gate connection pad electrically connected to a first one of the interconnection pads of the circuitry module, a surface of a drain connection pad electrically connected to a second one of the interconnection pads of the circuitry module, and a surface of a source connection pad electrically connected to a third one of the interconnection pads of the circuitry module.

8. The transistor amplifier of claim 7 , wherein the one or more circuit elements are mounted on the first surface and/or the second surface of the circuitry module and are configured to provide impedance matching and/or harmonic termination.

9. The transistor amplifier of claim 8 , further comprising a thermally and/or electrically conductive auxiliary spacer layer on the one or more circuit elements.

10. The transistor amplifier of claim 7 , wherein the first and/or second lead are coupled to the second surface of the circuitry module or to the first surface of the circuitry module.

11. The transistor amplifier of claim 7 , wherein the interconnection pads comprise a first interconnection pad and a second interconnection pad on the first surface of the circuitry module,

wherein the first interconnection pad is configured to be coupled to the gate terminal of the amplifier die, and

wherein the second interconnection pad is configured to be coupled to the drain terminal of the amplifier die.

12. The transistor amplifier of claim 11 , wherein the interconnection pads comprise a third interconnection pad on the first surface of the circuitry module that is configured to be coupled to the source terminal of the amplifier die.

13. A radio frequency (“RF”) transistor amplifier comprising:

an RF transistor amplifier die having a first major surface and a second major surface that is opposite the first major surface, the RF transistor amplifier die comprising a gate terminal, a drain terminal and a source terminal on the first major surface;

a circuitry module on the first major surface of the RF transistor amplifier die, the circuitry module comprising a gate lead connection pad electrically coupled to the gate terminal and a drain lead connection pad electrically coupled to the drain terminal by respective conductive bonding elements that are external to the RF transistor amplifier die;

a coupling element between the RF transistor amplifier die and the circuitry module, the coupling element having a bottom surface adjacent the first major surface of the RF transistor amplifier die and a top surface opposite the bottom surface, wherein the top surface of the coupling element exposes a surface of a gate connection pad electrically connected to a first interconnection pad of the circuitry module, a surface of a drain connection pad electrically connected to a second interconnection pad of the circuitry module, and a surface of a source connection pad electrically connected to a third interconnection pad of the circuitry module;

a carrier substrate on the second major surface of the RF transistor amplifier die such that the RF transistor amplifier die is between the carrier substrate and the circuitry module, wherein the carrier substrate is configured to provide electrical connection and/or heat dissipation during operation of the RF transistor amplifier; and

a spacer layer of a thermally and/or electrically conductive material that is different from a material of the RF transistor amplifier die, and extends along an interface between the second major surface of the RF transistor amplifier die and the carrier substrate.

14. The RF transistor amplifier of claim 13 , wherein the circuitry module comprises a first side adjacent the first major surface of the RF transistor amplifier die and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the spacer layer is a substantially uniform layer comprising a metal, and

wherein the circuitry module comprises one or more circuit elements that are coupled to the gate terminal and/or to the drain terminal.

15. The RF transistor amplifier of claim 14 , further comprising a thermally and/or electrically conductive auxiliary spacer layer on the one or more circuit elements.

16. The RF transistor amplifier of claim 15 , wherein the spacer layer and the auxiliary spacer layer form an integrated spacer layer.

17. The RF transistor amplifier of claim 13 , further comprising sidewalls and a lid,

wherein the carrier substrate, the sidewalls, and the lid define an internal cavity, and

wherein the RF transistor amplifier die is within the internal cavity.

18. The RF transistor amplifier of claim 13 , further comprising an overmold material on the circuitry module and RF transistor amplifier die.